slums

I was in Lisbon for other reasons but I couldn’t resist the opportunity to continue the research I just have started. So most of the time I tried to look with the eyes of an illegal immigrant who has to survive in a hostile city.

Lisbon has many ‘shanty towns’, where mostly African immigrants live. These ‘barracas’ have dotted the city’s periphery. I wanted to visit these slums. ‘Don’t go, too dangerous!’ said everybody, even the police.
When I arrived a boy, who was leaning against a broken shop-window, called me, ‘Speak English?’
He was obviously the local drugsdealer and guided me through his neighbourhood. I don’t know if I ever will use this material but it colours my search.